Crime tip led to murder conviction
Fayette County Crime Stoppers paid $1,000 Friday to an anonymous source who provided a tip to state police last May that led to the arrest and conviction of a 32-year-old Masontown man. District Attorney Nancy Vernon said the tip led police to Cleveland, Ohio, where they picked up Thomas Miller II.
Miller was convicted of first-degree murder Thursday and sentenced to a mandatory term of life in prison without parole.
According to Vernon, who tried the case and is a member of the Crime Stoppers advisory board, Miller shot and killed Charles D. Springer last May 12 and wounded Springer’s stepfather, Andrew “Boo” King, who still has a bullet in his chest from the shooting.
State police trooper James Monkelis said that without the anonymous tip, police could have had a tough time locating Miller.
“The tip was extremely beneficial,” said Monkelis. “Because of it, Ohio police were able to find and arrest Miller on May 14, and we were able to pick him up in Ohio on May 15 and bring him back to Pennsylvania.”
Monkelis said police would like to receive many more tips from the public.
“You never know when a tip is going to pan out,” said Monkelis. “If we get a sound tip on someone from an anonymous caller, they too could earn up to $1,000 from Crime Stoppers.”
Daryl Smith, Crime Stoppers coordinator, said the caller who gave the tip on Miller received one of the larger checks the organization has written.
“A tip has to lead to the arrest,” said Smith “and this one did. Although we have given out checks in the past, this one is significant because we not only got a tip, but that tip led to an arrest and a conviction.”
Smith said Crime Stoppers raises funds through donations from the community, businesses and organizations.
“I don’t think people realize how many people are involved with this program,” said Smith. “We have been active for four years now, and members of the Crime Stoppers board don’t even know who the anonymous tips come from.”
People who offer tips are given a code, which they give to Crime Stoppers to collect their reward.
Smith said Fayette County Crime Stoppers receives 40 to 50 calls a week. He also said that Fayette County isn’t any different from any other county.
“Let’s face it, we have crime in Fayette County, but we work hand in hand with Nancy Vernon, the police, people of the community, businesses in the community and Mike Ellis and the Herald-Standard,” said Smith.
“We are very well supported by the Herald-Standard,” Smith continued “and Mike Ellis sits on our board. In fact, Mike was one of the initiators of the program.”
Smith said Crime Stoppers, a national program, has 18 crime program in Pennsylvania.
“Crime Stoppers started in Colorado about 20 years ago,” said Smith “but it’s been pretty successful here in Pennsylvania and in Fayette County.”
In addition to Smith, Ellis, Vernon and Monkelis, state police trooper Brian Burden, community relations officer, Fred A. Chipps, executive director of the Smithfield Bank, and H. Wayne Reese, president of the Smithfield Bank, helped present the check.